One of the best home teams in the province will get every opportunity to boost its reputation this month.
The Okotoks Oilers kick-off a season-long seven game homestand this weekend with a crucial South Division battle against the Calgary Canucks Feb. 4 at Pason Centennial Arena.
“This is a big time for us to move ahead,” said Oilers president Brad Robson. “And gain some ground on the teams battling with us in the second, third and fourth spots.
“It starts this weekend with the Canucks.”
Both teams, tied with 61 points each as of Jan. 31, are duking it out for the second-seed in the South Division as the Brooks Bandits are riding a 17-game winning streak and are comfortable in the pole position for top-spot.
Okotoks has won four of five match-ups this season with the Canucks, who are enjoying a renaissance under first-year bench boss and former Oilers head coach James Poole.
“We have a lot of four-point games coming up for us,” Robson said. “It will help if we gain in confidence for our push into March, into the playoffs.
“Every game from this point is big.”
The green-and-gold have been in the black on home ice all season, boasting a mark of 16-4-1, and recently seeing a 12-game points streak at Pason Centennial Arena halted.
“Right off the bat most games we’re dictating the play, we’ve got a big push,” Robson said. “We’re forcing the play and getting pucks deep on hockey clubs and we’re comfortable in our rink. We have a lot of confidence when clubs come into our arena.
“The last few games we’ve had pretty good fan support. They’re young kids, and when you have fans in the building that creates excitement on the bench and in the dressing room.”
Following the Canucks bout, Okotoks welcomes the Grande Prairie Storm for a matinee on Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
“The (players) realize we’re in a battle. Those second, third, fourth spots are all up for grabs,” Robson said. “The way Brooks has been playing the last 15, 18 games, they’ve already made a statement for first place.
“We have to just show them we’re ready to push them when it comes to end of March, April.”
Okotoks (29-16-3) is coming off a home-and-home split with the Olds Grizzlys. Captain Jordie Lawson’s two-goal effort paced Okotoks to a 4-3 win on Jan. 24. Olds won by the same score on Jan. 28 in their barn.
For schedule information go to okotoksoilers.ca
